Your Role in the Repair Process
Here we have provided you with a description of your role in the repair process. Although we do the metal work and the paint work, there are a couple of things that require your participation throughout the repair process.
Insurance
The topic of insurance could easily call for an entire website of it’s own. This is a very brief explanation of the most common path one would go down to file a claim. Each collision is unique and it would not be unusual if yours varied from this version in one way or another. We do deal with insurance companies and individual stories on a daily basis and as a result of this we are extremely knowledgeable on this subject. We welcome your phone call or e-mail if you have any questions at all on what to do, how to do it, where to go, etc.
There are a number of reasons cars come to our shop for repairs. The most common one, however, is because of a collision. After a collision it is important to determine the party at fault. Sometimes it is clear who is at fault, but if it is not, your insurance company or the local law enforcement can help determine that. Once the accountable person is determined, a claim needs to be filed with the responsible parties insurance*. All parties will need to give a statement to the insurance to file the claim. Once a claim number is obtained you can start making your decision on which repair facility you would like to take your vehicle to.
We don’t only handle insurance claims. If you have damage on your vehicle and you want to pay for the repairs on your own that is absolutely fine.
*If the other party is at fault, it is common in smaller collisions for them to request you get an estimate to see how much repairs will cost first. It is easy to understand wanting to leave out the insurance company if damage would cost less than a deductible or to prevent rates from going up. This is absolutely fine, but it is important to have their insurance information just in case to prevent any problems getting them to pay for repairs. It is also important to understand that if the other party is at fault, they will be responsible for paying for a rental vehicle should you need one while yours is in repair. Their insurance will do this if it handles the repairs, but it’s an extra cost to consider if they want to pay out of pocket.
Choosing the Repair Facility to take your vehicle to
A common myth in the autobody repair industry is that everyone needs to get three estimates before choosing which facility to get the repairs done. There is no law or rule requiring this. If you are being told to get three estimates, it’s almost guaranteed that the insurance company or person telling you this is looking for the lowest possible amount of money to spend fixing your vehicle. Which, when it comes to getting the repairs to your vehicle done right, quality should be a higher priority over cost.
Insurance companies are also prone to steering you to their “select” body shops. If we are not on their list, you are still allowed to choose us if that is your preference. If you are told by the insurance company that they will not be able to guaranty our work, that’s ok, because we guaranty our own work.
By law, you are allowed to choose which repair facility you take your vehicle to for repairs.
Schedule a CDR
Whether or not you are sure you want us to repair your vehicle for you, we will be happy to perform a Comprehensive Damage Report on your vehicle. A CDR is more in depth than an estimate and will provide you with significantly more accurate information on what your vehicle needs, how long it will take and how much it will cost than an estimate could. Just give us a call at (512) 930-5900 or send an e-mail to our schedule coordinator Caitlin at chamby1@verizon.net to plan a time to bring in your vehicle. If the damage is extensive and the vehicle needs to spend a few hours with us we will be happy to pick your vehicle up or drop you off at work or home. We try to be as accommodating as possible so that performing the CDR isn’t an inconvenience.
Dropping off your Vehicle
After we have performed a CDR we can order parts and begin handling the insurance claim for you. We will find out the availability of parts and how long it will take to get them when we perform the CDR. With that in mind we will be able to schedule a drop off date for your vehicle to come into our shop for repairs.
It’s a good idea to clear out your car of anything you might need while your vehicle is in our shop before you drop it off. This would include garage door openers, cell phone chargers, parking passes and cd’s. We will detail your vehicle after repairs are complete so you don’t need to worry about cleaning it up.
When you drop off your vehicle you will need to sign an authorization form that will allow us to repair your vehicle and handle the claims with the insurance company. We also have some literature to give you about the repair procedures so that you can follow along with your vehicle while it is in repair.
If you need a rental we will have a Hertz agent in our office waiting for your arrival to get you into a rental.
Staying updated while your vehicle is being repaired
You will be called periodically throughout your repair to give updates on where your vehicle is at in the repair process.
We also take pictures of your vehicle as it moves through the repair and post them online. All you need to do to access these pictures and updates is go to our Vehicle Status Check page and put in your last name and Repair Order number. If you don’t have the R.O. number call us and we can give it to you.
Many customers will also drop by our facilities to see their vehicle getting repaired in person. If you would like to do this please come to the front office and one of our personnel would be more than happy to take you to your vehicle and show off our work.
Picking up your vehicle when repairs are complete
Along with a wonderful repair of your vehicle we provide you with a repair folder. This folder will include a copy of our guarantees, printed pictures of your vehicle getting repaired, invoices for any parts used on your vehicle, and a copy of the final bill. We provide you with this so that you can have a thorough record of repairs and to show that we have nothing to hide.
After receiving your repair folder and approving of the repairs to your vehicle it’s time to handle payments. If you have an insurance check this would be the time to give it to us. You will need to endorse it over to us*. And as for deductibles or out of pocket expenses we accept cash, check, or credit card (Master Card, Visa, and Discover Card).
If you were in a rental vehicle and assuming there are no outstanding charges on your rental, you are more than welcome to leave the vehicle with us and we will contact Hertz to pick it up.
*If the check is made out to you and your lien holder please inform us of this at the beginning of repairs. It can take some time to get the lien holder’s signature and we won’t be able to release your vehicle to you without it. We can also try to get the check re-issued to be made out to you and Express Autobody so that you won’t have to worry about a lien holder signature at all.
After Repairs
Express Autobody has grown significantly from the good word of our customers. If, in the future, you have a friend or family member in need of auto body repair, please send them our way. If they get there vehicle repaired with us, we will send you two Platinum Cinemark movie passes as a way to say thank you.